Suga Lifestyle and fellow Alumnae Donate to the I.C.H.S F/N Lab Reconstruction!

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Gabrielle Burgess a.k.a Suga of Suga Lifestyle handed over a $100,000JMD Donation to President Keisha-Ann Down and other members of the I.C.H.S Alumnae on behalf of herself and fellow alumnae towards the reconstruction of the Food and Nutrition Lab (Date: Sunday, September 9, 2018)
Gabby a.k.a Suga’s alma mater, Immaculate Conception High School, began reconstruction of its Food and Nutrition Lab on Monday, July 2, 2018 and fundraising has been ongoing. However, they are were short by about $750,000JMD at the beginning of the summer.
When I heard about this, as past Deputy Head Girl (2002-2003), founder and owner of the website,
www.suglifestyle.com, I had to help. I thought instead of giving a donation personally, I could make more of an impact by approaching fellow alumnae. It’s a good thing I did, because so many did not know about the reconstruction of the F/N Lab.
Suga Lifestyle is a brand encompassed on the blog, sugalifestyle.com, and is intended to inspire, educate and entertain via various types of posts categorized by; GW Art, Restaurant Reviews and Ratings, Brand Jamaica, Charities, Health and Fitness, Sports and more.
Since I do Restaurant reviews for my website, it would not only be towards supporting our alma mater, but the future of our Culinary Industry.
Many top Caterers and Bakers currently in the Culinary industry are I.C.H.S Alumnae. To name a few of them and their businesses, Observer Table Talk Food Awards Caterer of the Year, Celeste Gordon of Whip It Up, Pastry Passions, Charissa Henry of Pink Apron Ja, Kuk Up Kreations, Suga Buzz, Levy’s Goodies, Cake Couture Ja and I.C.H.S’s Hall of Famer, Thalia Lyn of Island Grill! Whether or not the idea of fulfilling their dream began at Immaculate, High School is where it all began for many and after all, serves as our very strong foundation.
I attended the I.C.H.S Alumnae’s Monthly Planning session last Sunday to handover the cheque from Suga Lifestyle on behalf of myself and fellow ‘Mac Girl Sisters’, and to become more involved as well. I am extremely happy we were able to help to support our bright future and our alma mater.
The F/N Lab looks fantastic for the opening of the new school year with a few finishing touches to be made. For instance the addition of blenders and other items.
Take a look!
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The newly, reconstructed I.C.H.S F/N Lab!
Thanks again to my Mac Girl sisters who helped to make this donation possible! 
Dr. Astrid Batchelor – 2004
Danielle Hammond – 2001
Gillian Jackson – 2001
Janelle Johnson – 2001
Jessica Fowler – 2001
Kadonah Davis – 2001
Lisa-Gaye Greene – 2001
Maxine Spencer – 1971
Michaelia McLean – 1997
Monique Morgan – 2001
Renee Davis – 2001
Sara-Lu Campbell – 2001
Sasha Innis – 2005
Shanique Cathey – 2001
Tony-Ann Lyew – 2001
Kudos!

 

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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TGIF to this Fish Ceviche and Shrimp Cocktail from Cayman!

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White Fish Ceviche and Shrimp Cocktail by Chef Gregory Gooden from the fine dining Island Prime Restaurant at Cayman Brac Beach Resort, Cayman Islands. (Photo Credit: Tameka Davis)
***Reservations Recommended***
Island Prime Restaurant, Cayman Brac Beach Resort
Location: 383 Channel Road, KY2 – 2001, Cayman Islands
Ph: 855.484.0808
***Open on Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday evenings***

By: Gabrielle Burgess

If you liked this Blog, follow Suga Lifestyle Online, on Instagram (@sugalifestyle), Twitter (@sugalifestyleja) or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.

Save the Date!

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Oktoberfest has been teaching locals and visitors everything they need to know about German spirits and food for over 30 years. This year it starts from Saturday, September 22nd and lasts for 2 weeks, ending on Sunday, October 7th.

The Jamaican-German society usually celebrates years of existence with an annual beer and food extravaganza in Kingston. However, Simo’s Bread and Catering will be hosting an Oktoberfest event with Beer on tap, Meaty and Vegetarian food options on Sunday, September 23 in Trelawny! With the delicious and decadent treats that Simo’s will be offering, #simosoktoberfest is definitely Suga Endorsed.

***SPECIAL***

Buy 5 tickets and get 1 FREE until September 6th!

For more Information:

Christina M.B. Simonitsch

Location: Montego Bay

Email: [email protected]

Catering, Cooking Lessons & Staff Training

By: Gabrielle Burgess

If you liked this Promo, follow Suga Lifestyle Online, on Instagram (@sugalifestyle), Twitter (@sugalifestyleja) or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.

Have you tried the Roasted or Scotch Bonnet Flavours from The Jamaican Peanut Butter Factory?!

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Suga sampled the new Roasted flavour from The Jamaican Peanut Butter factory a few weeks ago at the Potter’s Fair in Hope Gardens and it was an instant buy for the home.

Word is that samples of the new Scotch Bonnet Flavour were given out at the Devon House Expo last weekend and persons loved it too!

Keep up with The Jamaican Peanut Butter Factory as they expand their flavour line and distribution outlets! #SugaEndorsed #BuyLocal #BrandJamaica

The Jamaican Peanut Butter Factory 

Distributes to: Loshusan, John R. Wong and General Foods Supermarkets

Insragram: @jamaica_peanut_butter_factory

Email: [email protected]

By: Gabrielle Burgess

If you liked this Feature, follow Suga Lifestyle Online, on Instagram (@sugalifestyle), Twitter (@sugalifestyleja) or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.

You have to taste these Coconut Drops!

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Ronetta Crooks-Allen of RSS Naturalll Delites with one of her daughters, Shaunell Allen at Christmas in July, a Tropical Wonderland Trade Show put on by THF at The Jamaica Pegasus last Thursday, July 19, 2018.

Suga visited Christmas in July at The Jamaica Pegasus last Thursday. It was the 4th staging of the event titled, ‘Tropical Wonderland Trade Show’ put on by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (THF). It is a Tourism Linkages Network Initiative showcasing unique Jamaican products available for wholesale and retail by local businesses. Products are usually suitable for Gifts, especially Corporate gifting and Souvenirs.

There were quite a few eye-catching displays, however I was particularly impressed by the invitation and pitch from Mrs. Ronetta Crooks-Allen of RSS Naturalll Delites to try her flavoured Coconut Drops. I am not a fan of Coconut Drops, so I was pleasantly surprised with how appetizing her Cranberry flavoured Coconut Drops tasted. I was even more impressed that it was not too sweet or overpowered by the cranberries. The essence of coconut was still highlighted and quite delightful to the palate.

See Contact Information for RSS Naturalll Delites below to give those Cranberry flavoured Coconut Drops a try! Grater Cakes and other flavours of Coconut Drops are available as well.

Stay tuned to see where these yummy Coconut Drops may pop up in the future too! #BuyLocal

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Yummy Coconut Drops and Grater Cakes from RSS Naturalll Delites #SugaEndorsed

RSS Naturalll Delites

Location: 138 Rhone Park Estate. Old Harbour, St. Catherine. JA. W.I.

Ph: 876.486.7469

Email: [email protected]

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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Family, Friends & Foodies Unite for the Love of Food at Kingston Kitchen!

Kingston Kitchen had Hope Gardens buzzing with activity last Saturday. It was a great event for family, friends and foodies to unite for the love of food.

The event was well supported, probably the biggest staging I’ve ever seen. The logistics and execution of the event was quite commendable.

Just a few drawbacks for me. One bar was not enough for the event and amount of patrons. It was overcrowded to say the least.

I also believe that our Gastronomy network via the Tourism Industry should have been involved with the event to incorporate tourists from various hotels on the north coast of the island. Kingston Kitchen’s Night Market would have been an eye-opening experience for them to see so much of our culture in one area and in one night. The event would also expose them to Kingston, as many tourists are unaware of the many cultural activities, beauty and places to go that exist in Kingston. For the next Kingston Kitchen, I would like to see them in bus loads!

There were so many vendors to pick, choose and refuse from, Suga and husband went with a hit list.

Here is a reminder of what Kingston Kitchen had to offer in addition to entertainment for adults and kids:

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I am proud to say my husband, Randy and I succeeded. We definitely took note of places to try in the near future as well.

Suga’s Breakdown!

MUST-STOPS AND GLAD BAG BUSS

● Stush in the Bush A variety of unique Sauces, Spreads and Preserves made with love. Always a crowd pleaser.

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Lisa and Chris Binns doing what they do best at Kingston Kitchen last Saturday, July 7, 2018.

● Lucky Strike Seafood Bar and Grill – Their Seafood bowl is always a hit. My husband approves!

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Randy Burgess and wife, Suga a.k.a Gabby from Suga Lifestyle at Kitchen last Saturday

● Street Food Saturdays – Fresh mint Lemonade, Street corn and more. They kept patrons coming all night!

● Fish Pot – Flavourful, peppery Fish soup. Great gas buster to prep for food galore.

●Simo’s Bread and Catering – Pastries, Soursop Popsicles, Dessert, Sauces, Seasonings. Excellent spread as usual from the main hands of it all, Christina Simonitsch.

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Delicious Mini Cronuts, Pastries, Sauces and more from Simo’s Bread and Catering at Kingston Kitchen last Saturday.

● I Love Paella – Rich, flavourful Tapas! From Valencia with love. Bravas, Croquetas and Empañadas cooked right in front of you.

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● Scott van Bonnet - New kid on the block from Blue Diamond Shopping Centre, Montego Bay. They had tasty Turkey and Lamb Wraps. Loved the infused flavours.

Coming soon to Kingston, Ocho Rios and Negril. Can’t wait!

● Topp In Designz Limited – Foodie Gear galore!

Suga had to cop this shirt!

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DISAPPOINTMENTS

● Gypsy House Tapas!

I have never thrown away food at Kingston Kitchen, but there is always a first. Trust me, I tried my best to eat their Seafood and Meat stacked Paella, but I just couldn’t get past the dry rice that nearly choked me and lack of flavour. It was horrible. Chef Enric’s, I Love Paella still stands as the place to go for authentic Valencian Paella.

● Soup King

They didn’t have any Soup for over an hour after the start time of the event. They seemed to have gotten things going later on in the night though.

SATISFYING STOPS #SugaSnaps

● Lyming at Walkerswood – Mannish water, Curried Goat and more. Jamaican cooked food that goes right to the heart and makes you feel at home.

● NCR Sheep Limited – Tasty Lamb sausage.

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● Rolly Polly – Ice cream for adults and kids. I enjoyed my topping of Bailey’s rum cream on my Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream. Delish!

PLEASANT SURPRISES

Gustazos Booth 

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Suga had a ball in the Money Machine to grab as much cash as possible in a short period of time to go towards her Gustazos Account credit.

Patrons enjoyed their small giveaways, boomerang photo booth and money machine! Fun addition to the event.

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES #SugaSpieswithHer4Eyes

> Fromage Bistro and Brasserie, Cafe Dolce, Pita Grill, Deaf Can! Coffee, Chocolate Dreams, Until We Eat Again, Cannonball Cafe, Pink Apron Jamaica, Tea Tree Créperie and Sip ‘n’ Go Juice Bar.

Suga didn’t get to stop by the usual crowd faves mentioned above, but I could see that they continued to please!

PLACES TO EXPERIENCE IN THE NEAR FUTURE #SugasRadar

> Eatopia Jamaica, WTF Burgers and 25 Wafflerie

Kudos to Director Leisha Wong, Melanie Miller and their team for their hard work, efforts and a well executed Foodie affair. #SugaEndorsed

Until the next one!

By: Gabrielle Burgess

If you liked this article, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.

Seafood Buffet Tomorrow!

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Do you have a craving for Seafood this weekend? Remember Jabba’s Peppa Swims?! Yes, the Shrimps that when you start eating you can’t stop. If you do or Suga has peaked your interest, be sure to check out Jabba’s Seafood Buffet tomorrow. There will not only be succulent Pepper Shrimps, but Sea Crabs, Conch and Soup. All you can eat at Big Wall tomorrow! Check it out!

By: Gabrielle Burgess

If you liked this Promo, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.

Lion Fish from Island Post's Golden Eye at the Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards on Thursday, May 31, 2018.

TGIF to Lion Fish from GoldenEye!

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Lion Fish from Island Outpost’s GoldenEye Resort at the Table Talk Jamaica Observer Food Awards on Thursday, May 31, 2018.

The taste and texture of the Lion Fish from Island Outpost’s GoldenEye Resort (Oracabessa, St. Mary) at the Table Talk Jamaica Observer Food Awards was perfection! Kudos to their new resident Chef, Tim Kensett.

Enjoy the Weekend!

By: Gabrielle Burgess

If you liked this Blog, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.

Winners and Highlights from the Sweetart Bake Expo!

The Sweetart Bake Expo held at The Jamaica Pegasus two Sundays ago had patrons in awe at the creativity of Cakes decorated and probably sent everyone’s sweet tooth into overdrive with the samples given.

There were On-stage demos and Presentations on Cake Decorating, as well as classes that were conducted, including one that was by a local instructor.

Sometimes a Cake is decorated well and doesn’t taste as good as it looks, but the proof is in the pudding. Suga was most impressed with the Piña Colada cupcake by Alex’s creations (@alexcreationsja). I tasted the rum first, followed by the coconut flavour,  then was hit with the sweet accentuated by the icing. Fantastic!

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Other tasty highlights for Suga:
*Instagram tags in brackets

• Cheesecake by Kelsey’s Kreations (@kelseyskreations_ja)

• Bread Pudding by Skimo’s Pastries (@skimos_pastries)

• Banana Bread by La Jazz Sweet Tooth (@lajazzp_c)

• Carrot Cake by Jhaneal Solomon (@savouritja)

• Beer Jelly by Su Yen Green (@bakedbysue)

• Nestle’s offering of mouth-watering Bread pudding and other desserts made by using their products. Not to mention the Nestle Frappélatte that seems to be a hit everywhere it goes. It’s made with coffee and ice cream and is richly flavoured.

I know persons are straying from the traditional Fruit cakes for Weddings, but I only got two to taste that were not up to standard. Perhaps Blissful Bites by Delvena came close. Lemon cakes are now a popular choice for Weddings, but none of them hit the spot.

The presence of well-known Bakers was missed, but there are many on the rise with potential who were present and have been working on their craft for years. The Cake Decorating Competitions displayed high levels of skill and creativity, making things look so real.

Here are most of the Winners!
Pre-decorated Cake Competitions by Theme:

• Fast Food 
Winner

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The Bucket Meal by @alissweetfantasy won 1st place. It was also voted the People’s Choice winner for the show!

2nd Place

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The Subway Meal by @cakesbyqueata won 2nd place.

Decorated by Students!
• Fast Food theme Winner

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Winner of the Student Category was Annalise Powell of @baked876.

• Wedding 
Winner

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The winning Cake was Decorated by @thesweetspotja

• Topsy Turvy 
Winner

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First time entrant who just started Baking last year of @doms.delights was in tears after the announcement and moved even a few members of the audience to tears too.

Runner up

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@fabulous_cakesja came 2nd.

• Jungle Theme
Winner

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Winner of the Jungle Theme Pre-decorated Cake Competition by #sweetimpressionsja

CONGRATS to the WINNERS and See you at the 5th Anniversary Edition, #sweetartbakeexpo2019!

Save the date! It will be May 26,2019 with 5 days of activities.

Sweetart Bake Expo

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @sweetartbakeexpoja

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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Suga takes a Culinary trip to Valencia in Jamaica with I Love Paella!

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Suga’s Ratings for I Love Paella

Date and time of visit: Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 1:00pm

No. of diners: 3

NB. Ratings fill 5 stars maximum and the criteria has been altered since it is a Pop-Up Kitchen

Parking: ★★★★★

Service: ★★★★☆

Speed: ★★★★☆

Food quality: ★★★★☆

Serving amount: ★★★★☆

Plating: ★★★★★

Value for $: ★★★★★

SuGa Endorsement:  ★★★★☆

Comments: 

Rich flavours were present throughout the dishes. Pleasant, courteous Chef. Superior service, speed and food quality. Serving amounts were adequate for a reasonable cost, as some meals were shareable. Chef Enric is from Valencia and he represents! Suga and friends enjoyed authentic Valencian Paella.

Suga’s Breakdown

From what I know, Chef Enric Escriva has been on the Jamaican culinary scene since January last year. Until he gets a suitable spot for his restaurant, he has been catering and doing Pop-up kitchens. I Love Paella is currently and temporarily in what used to be Cafe Nita’s space on Phoenix Avenue. So there is limited indoor and outdoor seating. The latter is the more comfortable choice with the hope of good weather.

I met two of my girlfriends for lunch around 1pm. Chef Enric greeted us politely and took us through the menu in which all prices included G.C.T. They did not have a Drinks menu, but basic drinks were available including wine, a simple white and red. We ordered a bottle of Chardonnay. They also have a Party Menu for groups.

The starters ranged from $850 – $1400JMD in cost, with some being shareable. Starters included Calamari, Tortillas, Croquetas and more.

We shared Bravas, a classic Valencian dish made from Fried Potatoes, a spicy brava sauce and allioli.

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Bravas ($850JMD)

We also enjoyed the Empanadas, freshly made artisan stuffed pastries. The Chicken Empanadas were stuffed with smoked paprika chicken and served with brava sauce. While the Black Bean Empanadas were stuffed with spicy black bean and served with allioli sauce. The sauces were on point!

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Chicken Empanadas ($850JMD)

We went specifically for Paella so that’s what we had. The Paellas are done to order, cooked and served in the traditional Paella pan that can serve 2 – 3 persons. However, prices shown on the menu are per person ranging from $2250JMD for the Vegetarian Paella to $3250JMD for the Seafood Paella with black rice from the squid’s ink.

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Seafood Paella ($2950JMD) with King Prawns, Squid, Mussels and Rice.

That Seafood Paella was as delicious as it looks with just the right amount of spiciness.

They don’t just serve Paella though. There are other mains available such as larger Tortillas and Empanadas ($1600JMD), Calamari sandwiches ($2400JMD) and Mediterranean salads ($1900JMD).

After all that spice, our palates demanded a bit of sweet. We completed lunch with Churros and Dark Chocolate. Fantastic ending to our lunch.

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Chef Enric serving Suga and friends some Churros with Dark Chocolate

I Love Paella Pop-Up Kitchen

***Reservations recommended***

Contact via Social Media messaging or Ph: 876-404-2867

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By: Gabrielle Burgess

If you liked this Review, follow Suga Lifestyle or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.